The Mariners placed first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley on the 10-day injured list due to back spasms and recalled first baseman Tyler Locklear from Triple-A Tacoma, per a team announcement. (Adam Jude of the Seattle Times first reported the moves.) The team has not indicated how long Raley is expected to be sidelined, but his placement on the IL is retroactive to July 27, meaning he can return in a week’s time.
Locklear, 24, was making a case for a call to the majors even before Raley’s injury was known. The former second-round pick is among the hottest hitting prospects in baseball, slashing .316/.401/.542 on the season. That includes a solid but unexciting start to his 2025 season; dating back to Memorial Day weekend, Locklear has posted an outrageous .356/.441/.681 slash in 50 games (227 plate appearances).
Locklear received a brief look in the majors last season, but he didn’t hit much in a tiny sample of 49 plate appearances. He’s spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A. Last week’s acquisition of Josh Naylor means Locklear won’t be stepping in to take everyday at-bats at first base, but he can mix in at designated hitter and give the M’s a big bat off the bench.
This year’s surge at the plate has put Locklear back on the map as a potential long-term option at first, but it’s surely also sparked some trade interest in the young slugger. The Mariners have been looking for help at third base and in the bullpen, and Locklear is one of many appealing prospects in a deep Mariners farm system that could help president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander achieve those goals.
As for Raley, it’s the second IL stint of his season. He missed about five weeks earlier due to an oblique strain. He’s having a down year at the plate, particularly in terms of power output, hitting .220/.343/.348 in 170 trips to the plate. That batting line is at least partially skewed by a recent and notable slump that’s seen Raley hit just .190/.320/.286 with 19 strikeouts in his past 50 trips to the plate. It’s certainly possible that Raley’s back issue has been plaguing him for some time and contributed to that skid.
The Locklear Dynasty begins.
He probably won’t get traded if we activate him now but that’s good since we probably can’t afford to resign naylor next season
Just wondering why it took so long. Could have brought him up two months ago (he was crushing it then, too) while Solano and Tellez were stinking up the joint. I thought he must have peed in Jerry Dipoto’s pool or something. If he’d have hit well in Seattle, then there’s no need to trade for Naylor. If not, send him back to Tacoma and make the trade. Either way, DFA Solano. Please. It’s a wasted roster spot and a sunk cost.
It’s my understanding that they had him make an adjustment in early to mid-June and wanted to see him get comfortable with it.
He was striking out too much and lacking power before that. But since then, he’s cut down on the Ks and he found his power. In fact, he had 6 HRs over his last 8 games before this promotion.
One of my complaints about Seattle has been rushing hitters to the big leagues. They did it again this year with Williamson. They did it last year with…Locklear.
He looks ready now. Hopefully he’ll continue to mash and earn the full-time gig for 2026.
Jose Ramirez time
Meh, they’d be better off with TJ Hooker
Locklear is a Quad-A player repeating AAA for a second time. He should be scorching them; nowhere to play on the major league team. Hopefully the Mariners will be shipping him out as part of a trade.
I couldn’t disagree more.
He has a shorter, fluid path to the ball now. That was an adjustment he made in early-mid June.
It’s not really fair to label a guy who was promoted too early (and stayed briefly) a quad-A player. Most prospects don’t hit the ground running. MLB is hard. They need time and fans need patience.